Mechanical Properties of Polyamide Fiber-Reinforced Lime-Cement Concrete

Lime-cement concrete (LCC) is a type of lime-based concrete in which lime and cement are utilized as the main binding agents. This type of concrete has been extensively used to construct support layers for shallow footings and road backfills in some warm regions. So far, there has been no systematic research conducted to investigate the mechanical characteristics of polyamide fiber-reinforced LCC. To address this gap, LCC specimens were prepared with 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% of polyamide fibers (a synthetic textile made of petroleum-based plastic polymers). Specimens were then cured for 3, 7, and 28 days at room and oven temperatures. Then, the effects of the fibers' contents, curing conditions, and curing periods on the mechanical characteristics of LCC, such as secant modulus, deformability index, bulk modulus, shear modulus, stiffness ratio, strain energy, failure strain, strength ratio, and failure patterns, was investigated. The results of the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests showed that specimens with 1% fiber had the highest UCS values. The curing condition and curing period had significant effects on the strength of the LCC specimens, and oven-cured specimens developed higher UCS values. The aforementioned mechanical properties of the LCC specimens and the ability of the material to absorb energy significantly improved when the curing period under the oven-curing condition was increased, as well as through the application of fibers in the mix design. Based on the test results, a simple mathematical model was also established to forecast the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced LCC. It is concluded that the use of polyamide fibers in the mix design of LCC can both improve mechanical properties and perhaps address the environmental issues associated with waste polyamide fibers.